Projector mounting and alignment device

Abstract

A projector mounting and alignment device having a support frame, a base member longitudinally slidable relative to the support frame between a retracted and an axtended position. A connector is provided for connecting the base member to the support frame in the retracted position. A pivot plate is pivotally mounted to the base member. A projector mounting plate is hingedly connected to the pivot plate by a hinge member. The projector mounting plate is also pivotally connected to the hinge member. A pivot plate adjuster acts between the base member and the pivot plate to position the pivot plate relative to the base member. A projector mounting plate adjuster acts between the pivot plate and the projector mounting plate to position the projector mounting plate relative to the base plate.

I claim: 
     
       1. A projector mounting and alignment device comprising: a support frame;   a base member slidably connected to said support frame and longitudinally movable with respect thereto in a first plane between a retracted position and an extended position;   a pivot plate pivotally connected to said base member and pivotally movable relative to said base member about a first pivot axis generally perpendicular to said first plane;   a hinge member hingedly connected to said pivot plate and tiltable with respect to said pivot plate about a hinge axis generally parallel to said first plane and generally orthogonal to said first pivot axis;   a projector mounting plate pivotally connected toward a first end thereof to said hinge member and pivotal with respect to said hinge member about a second pivot axis generally orthogonal to said hinge axis and tiltable with said hinge member about said hinge axis;   a connector for connecting said base member to said support frame when said base member is in said retracted position;   a pivot plate adjuster acting between said base member and said pivot plate to position said pivot plate relative to said base member about said first pivot axis; and,   a projector mounting plate adjuster acting between said pivot plate and said projector mounting plate to position said projector mounting plate relative to said pivot plate about said hinge axis and to position said projector mounting plate relative to said hinge member about said second pivot axis.   
     
     
       2. A projector mounting and supporting device as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said base member and said supporting frame are slidably connected by slide members having respective slide rails mounted to said support frame and said base member, said slide rails having an intermediate member interspersed therebetween and having rollers between said intermediate members and said respective side members to allow relative telescopic movement between said slide rails thereby enabling and guiding said relative longitudinal movement between said base member and said support frame.   
     
     
       3. A projector mounting and supporting device as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said pivot plate is at least partially supported above said base member by guide wheels, each said guide wheel having a generally cylindrical outer member coaxial with and rotatable about an inner member with at least one bearing member interspersed therebetween to align said inner and outer members and to reduce friction between said inner member and said outer member, said inner member being mounted on a shaft attached to said pivot plate and said outer member rollably engages said base member when said projector mounting and supporting device is in an upright position;   a support rail extends across each said guide wheel and is rigidly secured to said base member with said guide wheel interspersed therebetween to restrict movement of each said guide wheel away form said base member and said guide wheel rollably engages said support rail when said projector mounting and supporting device is in an inverted position to maintain said pivot plate generally adjacent said base member;   each said wheel has an axis of rotation which generally intersects said first pivot axis and said outer member is rollable in a direction generally tangential to the pivotal movement of said pivot plate about said first pivot axis.   
     
     
       4. A projector mounting and alignment device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said pivot plate is generally rectangular and one of said guide wheels is mounted adjacent each corner of said pivot plate. 
     
     
       5. A projector mounting and supporting device as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said projector mounting plate is slidably supported adjacent said hinge member by guide wheels adjacent the ends of said hinge member;   each said guide wheel has a generally cylindrical outer member coaxial with and rotatable about an inner member and at least one bearing member is interspersed therebetween to align said inner and outer members and to reduce friction therebetween;   each said inner member is mounted on a shaft connected to a projector mounting plate support frame extending around said projector mounting plate adjacent the perimeter thereof, said shaft being generally radially aligned with said second pivot axis;   each said guide wheel rollably engages said hinge member when said projector mounting and supporting device is in an upright position;   a support rail extends across each said guide wheel and is rigidly secured to said hinge member to restrict movement of each said guide wheel away from said base member; and,   said guide wheel rollably engages said support rail when said projector mounting and supporting device is in an inverted position.   
     
     
       6. A projector mounting and supporting device as claimed in claims 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 wherein each said adjustable connector includes: a first connector member rigidly secured to said supporting frame;   a second connector member rigidly secured to said base member; and   a threaded member for connecting said first and second connector members when said projector mounting and supporting device is in said retracted position.   
     
     
       7. A projector mounting and supporting device as claimed in claims 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 wherein said pivot plate adjuster includes: at least one screw member;   a screw member support threadedly receiving each said screw member and rigidly secured to one of said base member and said pivot plate;   a screw abutment secured to the other of said base member and said pivot plate;   and wherein each said screw member extends between said screw member support and said screw abutment to cause relative movement between said screw member and said screw abutment when said screw member is threadedly moved relative to said screw member support.   
     
     
       8. A projector mounting and supporting device as claimed in claim 7 further including a resilient biasing member mounted between said base member and said pivot plate to bias at least one of said at least one screw members toward said screw abutment. 
     
     
       9. A projector mounting and supporting device as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 wherein: said projector mounting plate adjuster includes a pair of adjustment rods rotatable about respective rod axes;   respective rod engaging members are connected to said projector mounting plate and said pivot plate for connecting opposite ends of each said rod to said projector mounting plate and to said pivot plate;   at least one end of said adjustment rods is threadedly connected to said respective rod engaging member to cause said rod engaging member to move along said adjustment rod in response to rotation of said adjustment rod;   each said respective rod engaging member is pivotally mounted to permit tilting of said rods relative to said projector mounting plate and said pivot plate in response to said pivoting of said projector mounting plate to avoid imparting a bending moment on said rod engaging members.